Electrolytic reduction of metallic compounds.



UNITED strA' nsg -grantr OFFICE,

HUGH RODMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA,

JERSEY.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 17, 1902. Serial No. 107,793.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HUGH RonMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State vof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new v forth, the invention, stated in general terms,

comprises the electrolytic reduction of the,

compounds of the metals in an alkaline solution containing a soluble sulfid.

Certain metallic compounds, such as oxid of iron, Fe O are inert in ordinary, alkaline electrolytes upon the passage of current, and

I will choose thisoxid of iron in describ widelyvaried, but I may mention as an exing my invention althou h the latter is not confined to it. This oxi of iron is not inert but can be readily reduced. to the metallic state by electrol sis, if the alkaline solution contains a solub e -sulfid, such as potassium sulfid, K S. The electrolyte may consist of a solution o'f-caustic potash to which has [been added potassium sulfid, or it ma con-- .sist'of potassium sulfid only, but the ormer is believed to be in many instances preferable. The proportions orthe strength of the solution are not important and may be very PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW ELECTROLYTIC REDUCTION OF METALLIC COMPOUNDS.

Patented April 14, 1908.

ample a ten per cent. solution of caustic potash to whic 1 has been added five per cent, of dry potassium sulfid; In reducing a mass of iron oxid of about an inchsquare and oneeighth of an inch thick, in the described electrolyte, there would be required about. oneeighth of an ampere for about twelve hours the oxid constituting the cathode, and the anodejbeing of any suitable material, as lead or carbon. v

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications may ing from the spirit thereof, hence I dognot lim t myself to the precise mode of procedure p x50. Having thus described the nature and objects of the invention, what I claim as new.

by Letters Ratent is a i. 4 1. The process of reducing iron oXid which herein set forth, but

and desire to secure consists'in subjecting the same to electrolysis as a cathode in an electrolyte containing a soluble sulfid, substantially as described.-

be made in details without depart- I 2. The processof reducing iron oxid which,

consists in subjectin as a cathode in an e the same to electrolysisectrolyte containing an:

alkali and a soluble sulfid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name;

HUGH Ronni m.

'Witnessesi V BRUCE FORD, GEO. M. owanr 

